TO SEE AN OWL, by Matthew Cordell, as anticipated, is flat-out gorgeous. I enjoy birding with my family, so being familiar with the hunt helps me see the work here. There truly is magic in the search for the elusive bird you insist on seeing, but it is hard work. Your final moment is only sweet because of all the hard work, and walks, and cold weather, and just-one-more-passes that you do. The moment this little birder finds an owl is so, so sweet because of all the love Matthew Cordell has put into these moments on paper. The colors, the scenery, the scapes, oh my goodness. You are traveling with this little birder. You're seeing how much work she is doing, how much we all do, to research and travel to sites. The knowing one day that your other plans are a bust because the weather means you HAVE to go look for the owl now! Yep, this book's journey does it perfectly.